Post by mommywife on Mar 31, 2014 20:43:12 GMT -5

Hi everyone, I am new here. I am wanting to get us out of debt. We aren't that bad into it but I want all the credit cards and everything just paid off. I love saving money. Why I started couponing a little while back. Any ideas would be great. We pay a couple hundred between them each month. Thank you all in advance!

Post by mmhmm on Mar 31, 2014 20:45:53 GMT -5

Hi everyone, I am new here. I am wanting to get us out of debt. We aren't that bad into it but I want all the credit cards and everything just paid off. I love saving money. Why I started couponing a little while back. Any ideas would be great. We pay a couple hundred between them each month. Thank you all in advance!

Welcome, mommywife! You're in the right place. These folks will be happy to help you. You can also benefit from interchanges with the Your Money group. They're great at budgeting and working out the kinks, too. Good luck to you!

The only people who never make mistakes are those who aren't doing anything.When you give voice to your anger you're speaking through your brain's more primitive limbic system not its cortex. Is that what you want?

Post by speechchick71 on Mar 31, 2014 22:07:44 GMT -5

Welcome mommywife! Yep, I agree, you're in the right place to focus on paying off those bills. Consolidate what you owe and give us a tagline with your current total, date you started, and your starting total plus the state you live in.

It's been a little quiet here the past few weeks but we're a friendly bunch and will support you on your journey. We have all had struggles (in fact, for a whole calendar year I only added to my debt, didn't decrease at all) but the general direction is in the right direction! Ask questions and we'll do our best to answer.

Post by deepintx on Apr 3, 2014 10:32:08 GMT -5

Good Morning!

I am late to post this since my DH got paid last week. Here is a little update since this paycheck had to pay for our monthly bills as well. My DH's checks should start getting alot bigger since they will have his offshore time on them starting with the next check and for the next several checks. We originally thought he would be gone about a month and would fly home when the rig stopped about half way home from New Zealand to the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, I found out that they are making a stop in Argentina but they will be doing some testing during that time and my DH has to be there for that and they won't fly a replacement to relieve him so he has to do the entire trip. This will be doubling the amount of time that he will be away. Not a good way to start his offshore work. While we have to focus on the positive that this trip brings which is the amount of money he is making while away is very good. I just miss him terribly and the thought of another 5 weeks just seems like such a long time. This should be the longest he will be away since they are moving this rig and normally he will be out working on rigs that are stationary. So, the next time he gets paid which is next week we will be paying this race off. Then the checks after that will go towards our next goal of a 6 month EF.

Post by bramoney on Apr 3, 2014 15:17:14 GMT -5

Update: 4/1/14 $9,816.63 (7/20/07 $33,441.00 N3848)

Greeting everyone, Hope all is well with you and yours. We are ok over here, we did go with CCCS and I will keep a close eye on my statements. Thank you again to writing to me about your experience(s) with them. My husband has filled for his SS so in May he shoud be getting his monies. That will help with expenses and his cntract work has pickup a little.

I know things will not always be like this, it just seems to have been a long time this time. You know like, you never thought that you would be in this position or you planned well so that you would not be in this position. Well, when only one is planning and the other is not, therein lies the problem. Am I bitter about it, maybe a little. When your partner decides they don't want to go back to the 9-5 and don't give you a plan to pay these cc bills that require a 9-5. Ha! Ha! (smile). Anyway, I will be ok.

I just got turned on to country music and I love it! Next time around I think I will go country, there I done said it! The music is so relaxing and soothing, and it also makes you want to dance. So, that's my new thing! Now, about my little space at a resale shop, it is much fun for me, I go second hand shopping to put stuff in it along with my crafts, its all me and I love it! Just an outlet for me.

I wish everyone the best, thanks to everyone that looks after us and wlecome the new people that wants to join us! Keep up the good job of busting down your debt! Until next month or two "here's looking at you!

Post by sparks2710 on Apr 3, 2014 23:04:45 GMT -5

UPDATE: Sparks2710 4/4/14: $11,660.17 (1/1/14: $14,316.93, FL S166)

This is a major update for me! I came into some unexpected money at work and used to it pay off 3 balances so I now have 4 zeros!!!! I am super excited about that! I also reached the milestone of having my loan below $7,000.00! Yay! And last but not least I am under $12,000 in debt!! Slow and steady wins the race!

If it weren't for this board I don't think I would strive to pay off my debt. Thank you everyone for being so encouraging! I can't wait for the day I have all zeros!!!

I'm almost to my savings goal for moving & I met all but one of my quarterly goals. I still haven't committed to buying a house but I have to move this year. I gave my notice on April 1st & my landlord said my unit is already rented. So the last leg of my race will be a snail's pace as I move & get a good handle on the new budget. I would love to get this paid off before my next WIRRiversary in January.

Post by jdnstl on Apr 6, 2014 15:29:22 GMT -5

welcome mommywife. the first thing that we have found most helpful is to get your numbers together. pull all the debt you want to get rid of and list them out. include current balance, interest rate, and minimum monthly payment. once you know the hard numbers it's easier to formulate a plan to pay it off. we use this board as an accountability partner. posting & watching numbers go down each month really motivate us to push through difficult times & keep working toward being debt free. the next thing that has helped a lot of people is posting your complete budget. after you have your numbers, put together your monthly budget to make sure that you are living within your means (meaning you spend less than you make) & if you aren't, then evaluating the budget for leaks or areas to cut back is needed. the people here are really good at helping with budgets too. we look forward to having you join us.

I will have another ZERO in two weeks and then not another one again for many months. I had to use some of my savings to pay off the down payment I put down on my car...put it on my AmEx to get the miles. I'll be doing the same with my taxes. I didn't feel bad doing it because I knew I had the cash to pay the bill. I don't think I'm going to update my numbers to reflect the bills I am not racing even though I sort of am. They will all be paid off before my last CC. Once I get that paid off, I think I'll race my car loan.

I still don't have a job lined up for when I'm done here. I'm starting to get a little nervous but I know it will all work out. I"ll be back here next year for the season. Its nice to know that I'll have a job for at least 5 months of the year!

Post by deepintx on Apr 8, 2014 19:11:11 GMT -5

Boy did it feel good making this payment today when my DH got his first big offshore paycheck! It helps ease the pain with him being gone for so long right now. We have to keep our eye on the prize.

Sparks - I'm sorry nobody was here to congratulate you. That is awesome to see you have 3 more zeros and 4 in all so far! You are really off to a great start!

jdnstl - Your savings account looks amazing! I hope the move goes smoothly for you. Do you know where you are going to move to yet? When do you have to be out of your apartment? Congrats on meeting your quarterly goals!

Speech - You are so close to getting a zero! I know you will have something lined up soon after this job. You always were in demand when you were doing this work before so you will be snatched up in no time at all. When does this job assignment end?

Bramoney - I hope you get the relief you need so you aren't so stressed. I'm glad you found some ways to have fun and enjoy yourself and make some money too! Bonus! Take care of yourself!

I will be checking in from time to time to see your progress and cheer you on but I think I am done racing. Our mortgage is a 15 year 2.99% loan that we have about 13 years left on (we refinanced 2 years ago). I really don't feel a big rush to pay it off because the rate is so low and I see a huge chunk coming off in principle each month. I think once we build our 6 month EF we are going to start really working on our retirement accounts and have some fun and enjoy our boys while we still have them at home.

Post by speechchick71 on Apr 8, 2014 20:20:30 GMT -5

Deepintx! Congratulations on your WIN!

And yes, Sparks, sometimes we get slow. I saw your ZEROs though and congratulations! Don't they feel good to get? You'll be knocking that rest of the debt to the curb quickly. I have to say that I check in every couple days or so but I don't always post. I would have gotten you!

Post by jdnstl on Apr 10, 2014 15:16:18 GMT -5

sparks - congrats on the new ZEROs!!

deepintx - congrats on winning your race!! this calls for a and a celebratory !!! are you on the savers thread? it might be helpful to "race" your savings goals. you've done great on your races, you & your DH have been blessed tremendously financially so you may not need it, but i still want to encourage you to stick around. thanks, but my savings was for buying a house, which i think i'm not going to do. now with some big medical bills coming up (i will have to have surgery in the next month) i'm almost wishing i didn't have to move. but i know these times are a test of my faith & if i'm willing to follow my Lord even in the face of difficulty. no, i don't know where i'm moving yet. i'm thinking of leaving houston, but the job markets anywhere else aren't as good. i definitely have to move to the burbs though - i've got to get DS into a good school district!

speech - you're getting there! i agree with deepintx, it'll work out.

NOTE TO WIRR SOUTH - i'll be doing a regional update this weekend (probably sunday evening) so get your numbers in if you want counted!! let's go racers!

i'll go first....i got 2 wrong, which had to do with social security & medicare laws. i'm still probably 30 years away from retiring so the laws will very definitely change by then, but this showed me that i need to stay on top of law changes if i want to be really prepared to retire.

Post by forwardwego on Apr 14, 2014 6:55:11 GMT -5

money has been going for other things than debt reduction, but very little being "frittered" so I'll just hold the course and get there in time, still hoping to win the race this year, got the IRS paid, and saving hard because not sure if the roof or A/C will give up first

sorry i'm not up to my old level of involvement and shoutouts, but i imagine i'll get back to that

Post by paynointerest on Apr 14, 2014 18:15:54 GMT -5

It finally got above 70 degrees this past weekend. It's been a long winter. I'm glad to have sunshine and warmth.

I am buried in grading right now. I made the mistake of using another professor's case study format and am paying for it now. It is ridiculously long and a pain to grade. 3 more weeks and I'm free from classes. It is not going by fast enough.

DeepinTx: Congratulations on your zero! How many wins is this for you now?

Another month of not great reductions! Had to pay taxes and the bills from out trip to WI coming in. Sorry I haven't been on the board that much but have been sick since we got home from our trip. Starting to feel better.

Welcome to mommy. We aren't as verbal as we have been but you will get great advise here and see people trying their hardest to get rid of debt. We are glad you joined.

CONGRATULATIONS DeepinTX You Rock!

I am so close to paying off $50,000. If I had known it was that close I would have paid an extra $23.40 just to make it an even $50,000. Aw well, next month I will celebrate.

Post by speechchick71 on Apr 16, 2014 18:39:59 GMT -5

Hey everyone: if you got notice that your CC at Target may have been compromised, you have until next week (I think it's the 23rd with activation by the 30th) to get your free credit monitoring thru Experion. When you go to the website, you only have to put your email address and then they send you back the activation code. I really didn't think I shopped with my credit card during that period but I got an email from Target. So I figured I might as well allow the monitoring.

Also, has everyone been changing passwords due to Heartbleed?

Now that my taxes are in, my payoff might have to be put on hold for a bit. I had to pay about $7k for this past year due to my time as an independent contractor. If I had been making good money I would have done quarterly payments but I was hardly making enough to stay afloat. I hate to say that it's nice to work for someone but I'm happy to have someone take care of withholding those taxes for me. I don't have a job yet for the summer/fall but I'm sure something will come along. I'll be a snowbird, I suppose, as I'm coming back here for the next season.

Post by speechchick71 on Apr 18, 2014 7:53:02 GMT -5

The next 2-3 months are going to be weak paydowns as I will be raiding all of my savings to pay my taxes. I put it on my AmEx for the miles but now I need to scrape all my funds together to get it paid off. Normally, that one is PIF every month so this might be the first time in over 5 years that I will have to carry a balance for a month. So this is my last zero for a while. I have one CC with a 0% interest that is getting paid down and then I might end up transferring part of the balance of my only raced CC for a bit. I'll have to figure out where the "break even" point is for paying the BT fee versus the interest. I'm imagining that no matter what it will make a difference to make the transfer.

Retirement? I always wanted to be in a position to retire when I was in my 50s (be in the financial position that I COULD, not necessarily that I WOULD) but I highly doubt that will happen unless I come into some money! I do have money going into a 401k right now (although I cannot add more being that I'm a seasonal employee) and once I start traveling again I think I am going to put the max % that I can into the one with that job. One of the reasons I stay with that particular company is that I'm already vested. Most places only give you a % of the % that they can give...like 20% of the 2% they match (or whatever the formula).

Here is my update. It went up a little bit because I accidentally used my raced CC one day...took that instead of my AmEx when I was out and about. Grrrr. But I have a new zero and that makes me happy. Have a good weekend everyone!

Post by jdnstl on Apr 18, 2014 16:33:55 GMT -5

oh dear south WIRR, i am so terribly sorry that i didn't get the update done last weekend!! we ended up being home maybe a total of 4 hours sunday & 2 of those hours were getting dressed in the morning & ready for bed in the evening. this weekend i can get it done though, as we are going to easter service saturday morning & have absolutely NO plans for sunday. ...my favorite kind of day. have a blessed weekend cyber-friends!